Apple released last week a big update to its iOS devices. This gives the iPad the much needed and anticipated features that was previously introduced to iPhone 4, 3GS and older versions of the iPhone last June.
I’ve been using 4.2.1 on the iPad and iPhone 4 for a week now. Here are some of the new features introduced to the iPad:
Multitasking
If you’re using an iPhone 4 or 3GS, you’ll be at home with the semi multitasking feature. You double tap the home button and you’ll be presented with a list of apps that you previously opened at the bottom of the screen. You can switch to a different app on the fly and kill off some apps to free up some ram. Apps now can take advantage of this feature on the iPad.
Game Center
This is the xbox live version of the iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads. You can play games and compete with your friends over wifi. Not all games have this feature but for example, you can now play Fruit Ninja against other iOS devices. You can now see points and achievements from the games you played.
Folders
You can now group apps in to different folders up to 12 apps in a single folder. You can do this by holding the icon for a few seconds and drag the icon to another icon and combine them. You’ll be prompt with renaming the folder or not.
You’ll now have a unified inbox. Before, with iPad firmware 3.2.2, when you have multiple emails like yahoo, gmail and live emails, you have to go in and out of each mailbox to see your emails from a different account. With 4.2.1, you now have the option of viewing all your emails in a single folder.
Multimedia Widgets
When you double tap the home button and swipe it to the right, you’ll see you’re multimedia buttons like volume, brightness, forward, back and Play/Pause button. Another button is introduced in 4.2.1. That is the lock orientation button. In 3.2.2, the lock orientation button is a physical button on the upper left side of the iPad. In 4.2.1, the switch button is now the mute toggle button. This is a bit irritating since the iPad is really sensitive with screen orientation And now, you have to double tap the home button and swipe to the right once to lock the orientation. I hope Apple gives the users the option on how to use the toggle button on the left.
AirPlay and AirPrint
I haven’t tried the AirPlay feature yet since I don’t have an Apple TV to test it with. Basically, this feature allows users to push multimedia like music and videos over the air to be shown on a TV. AirPrint is another great update to both the iPad and the iPhone. This feature allows user to directly print documents over a network printer.
New Text tones for the iPhone
Finally, after 3 years of using just the 6 text tones by Apple, they added 17 new text tones. This is pretty big deal for me since almost everywhere you go, you’ll hear the same text tones from iPhone users. One caveat though, most if not all of the new text tones sounded awful.
If you’re an iPhone user, most probably you’re using the firmware 4.1 since June. The only updates you’ll get are AirPlay, AirPrint and new text tones. But if you’re an iPad user with firmware 3.2.2, you’ll feel like you have a new device. You must upgrade to the new firmware. You can finally do things on your iPad that iPhone users have been enjoying. Please be warned that the update is around 500mb to 650mb in size.
Editor’s Note: Dale is a reviews & special assignments contributor for YugaTech. The review had some minor revisions from me. You can follow him on Twitter @dalekins. – Yuga
YugaTech.com is the largest and longest-running technology site in the Philippines. Originally established in October 2002, the site was transformed into a full-fledged technology platform in 2005.
How to transfer, withdraw money from PayPal to GCash
Prices of Starlink satellite in the Philippines
Install Google GBox to Huawei smartphones
Pag-IBIG MP2 online application
How to check PhilHealth contributions online
How to find your SIM card serial number
Globe, PLDT, Converge, Sky: Unli fiber internet plans compared
10 biggest games in the Google Play Store
LTO periodic medical exam for 10-year licenses
Netflix codes to unlock hidden TV shows, movies
Apple, Asus, Cherry Mobile, Huawei, LG, Nokia, Oppo, Samsung, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Infinix Mobile, Pocophone, Honor, iPhone, OnePlus, Tecno, Realme, HTC, Gionee, Kata, IQ00, Redmi, Razer, CloudFone, Motorola, Panasonic, TCL, Wiko
Best Android smartphones between PHP 20,000 - 25,000
Smartphones under PHP 10,000 in the Philippines
Smartphones under PHP 12K Philippines
Best smartphones for kids under PHP 7,000
Smartphones under PHP 15,000 in the Philippines
Best Android smartphones between PHP 15,000 - 20,000
Smartphones under PHP 20,000 in the Philippines
Most affordable 5G phones in the Philippines under PHP 20K
5G smartphones in the Philippines under PHP 16K
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2024
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2023
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2022
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2021
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2020
Ligrev says:
Funny, just tested the new ultrasn0w on a 3gs (old bootrom) on iOS 4.1. It works outright. Good thing, I didn’t update to 4.2.1.
*confused*
And oh yeah, *BOO* at no new sms-tones for 3gs below!
sakura says:
new text tones na nga lang di pa naambunan ang 3GS. boo.
islacom philippines says:
Update: December Apple Media Event, rumors of iOS 4.3 update. This might be the reason why the “UNTETHERED Jailbreak” hasn’t been release.
again the waiting game continues…
baybee says:
ano raw?
dale says:
Thanks guys for all the questions.
*You can now jailbreak 4.2.1
*I havent tried tethering on the iPad since I have is a wifi version. You can tether the iPhone 4
*Yes, thats Windows 7 via Bootcamp. I use Windows 7 to edit pictures. I have a photoshop in Windows and not in Snow Leopard. :)
*Multitasking is available on 3GS. I tried it as well.
*Correction with the number of apps in a folder. I have not tried it more than 12 apps. :)
Thanks for the corrections. Appreciate it :)
islacom philippines says:
Jailbreak: iOS 4.2/4.2.1 for both iPhone 4G and iPad, only tethered jailbreak is currently available.
Tethered: you have to plug your iDevice on a computer to reboot it on jailbreak state. If you don’t do this. You can’t run Cydia and Safari. Very Stressful. Wait for the untethered jailbreak to be release or maybe wait the future jailbreak tool that might be release in the upcoming 4.3 update this coming December 2010.
I’m sure the Dev-Team will release a simple jailbreak like “Spirit or Limera1n or jailbreakme”
If you would like to jailbreak your 4.2.1 iDevice., don’t reboot then you won’t have any problems.
Good luck to all!
for others happy waiting! :)
romy says:
pwede na daw ijailbreak.
romy says:
pwede na daw ijailbreak ang 4.2.
paolo says:
Fyi, you can have upto 20 apps in a folder :)
Fernand says:
@ffsfadf: it is a big release especially for the iPad. He’s using bootcamp on his Macbook to allow Windows on it.
ffsfadf says:
it’s not a big release. it’s only a point release. windows on a macbook? ugh!
Kim Roa Endaya says:
@Justine Multitasking is supported by the iPhone 3GS… I have one :D
Justine says:
Akala ko di applicable ang multitasking sa iPhone 3GS? Can someone confirm this please?
Nomer says:
i am using iphone 3g, already updated to OS 4.2.1 pero ang text tone niya same pa rin.
imitator101 says:
does the new update allow tethering for the 3G ipad?
grinmod says:
kailan kaya ang jailbreak nito :)
Jam. says:
Is there a jailbreak available already?. Look at that smudges. Oh a windows 7 on a macbook!
walang imik says:
hopefully by next year after ng contract sa smart, hellow iphone 4 sa globe………
walang imik says:
hindi ako maka relate wala kc ako apple,,,